Business School offers insights into tertiary education to Indigenous school students

16 Jan 2014

The University of Sydney Business School has joined with a number of other faculties to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school pupils with an insight into campus life as well as the course and career options available to them in the future.

A total of around 250 pupils from around Australia including some from the remote Torres Strait are taking part in two summer programs.

The Wingara Mura (a thinking path) program has been designed for younger pupils (years 9 and 10) considering studies beyond school.

"We know that planning for the future can be daunting, especially when many of these students are not yet sure of what they want to do," said the Business School's Careers Services Manager, Sarah Fletcher. "Wingara Mura gives students the chance to explore their interests, or challenge themselves with something new."

"The theme of our elective is food and money and it involves a great deal of experiential learning," Ms Fletcher said. "For example, students will be looking at businesses on campus and meeting their owners."

The Bunga Barrabugu program for year 11 and 12 students focuses on more specific areas of study ranging from pharmacy to architecture and music.

Those who select business will be exposed to various areas of business development including strategy, human resources and marketing. "They will also be guided through the development of their own business ideas and will visit the Commonwealth Bank and KPMG," Ms Fletcher said.

"By opening the doors to the University of Sydney in this way, we will hopefully help these students to determine whether a tertiary education is for them," she concluded.